Help4 Network’s Pledge: Supporting WordPress and Changing the Hosting Industry

Table of Contents

1. Help4 Network’s Vision and the Pledge
2. 3% of Revenue to the WordPress Foundation
3. 2% of Revenue to Push WordPress Forward
4. Challenging the Hosting Industry’s Flaws
5. WP Engine vs. Automattic: Tensions in the WordPress Ecosystem
6. Scaling Up: Pledge at $1 Million
7. Conclusion: Building a Better Future for WordPress and Web Development

I started Help4 Network with a simple but bold vision: to be more than just a hosting company. My aim is to become a driving force in the WordPress community and beyond, helping individuals, small businesses, and non-profits leverage the power of open-source technology without being weighed down by the hosting industry’s limitations.

Today, I make a formal pledge:

• 3% of Help4 Network’s revenue will be donated to the WordPress Foundation to ensure that the platform continues to thrive and remain free for all.
• An additional 2% of revenue will be used to further the WordPress Project, including the development of free plugins, donated hosting for non-profit organizations, and sponsoring community events like WordCamps.

But this is just the start. As Help4 Network scales, my commitment to the WordPress community will only grow.

Help4 Network pledges to donate 3% of its revenue to the WordPress Foundation. The WordPress Foundation is responsible for ensuring the continued development, security, and innovation of the WordPress platform, and it plays a key role in making sure WordPress stays free and accessible for everyone.

With this pledge, Help4 Network will support the WordPress Foundation in its efforts to:

• Maintain and improve the WordPress core.
• Fund critical security patches and updates.
• Promote WordPress as an open-source project that remains free to use.

Example Calculation:

• Revenue Target: $250,000
• 3% for WordPress Foundation:
  $250,000 × 0.03 = $7,500 donated annually

This financial support helps ensure that WordPress continues to thrive, enabling millions of users to build and maintain their websites on a secure, feature-rich platform.

In addition to donating 3% of revenue to the WordPress Foundation, Help4 Network will commit another 2% of its revenue to advancing the WordPress Project. This support will go beyond financial donations, focusing on providing free tools, resources, and hosting to benefit the WordPress community.

Here’s how Help4 Network plans to invest this 2%:

• Free WordPress Plugins: Developing and releasing plugins that can help users extend the functionality of their WordPress websites, making these tools available to everyone at no cost.
• Donated Hosting for Non-Profits: Offering hosting solutions for non-profit organizations that need digital platforms but may not have the resources to pay for commercial hosting services.
• Sponsoring WordPress Events: Sponsoring WordCamps and Meetups, ensuring that WordPress communities continue to grow and have the resources they need to share knowledge, collaborate, and innovate.

Example Calculation:

• Revenue Target: $250,000
• 2% for WordPress Project:
  $250,000 × 0.02 = $5,000 allocated annually

This contribution will enable Help4 Network to empower WordPress users and developers, ensuring the platform continues to grow and evolve as the most popular content management system in the world.

Over the years, I’ve seen how the hosting industry has failed in its approach to web development, particularly when it comes to platforms like WordPress. The traditional hosting model is often focused on locking customers into long-term contracts, providing poor customer support, and nickel-and-diming users for necessary features like security, backups, and performance optimizations.

I’m on a mission to change this. Help4 Network isn’t just a hosting company—it’s a company built on the idea of empowering users, not trapping them. With my background in assisting organizations like BARCLAY Performing Arts and the Find Your Voice Foundation, I understand that providing technical solutions is about making things simple, efficient, and affordable for the people who need it most.

This industry needs a new approach—one that puts users first and focuses on providing reliable services without hidden fees or unnecessary complexity. That’s where Help4 Network comes in.

As Help4 Network pledges to give back to the WordPress community, it’s important to acknowledge some of the tensions currently happening in the WordPress ecosystem—most notably, the growing conflict between WP Engine and Automattic.

Recently, WP Engine sent a cease and desist letter to Automattic after comments made by Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, seemingly criticized WP Engine’s practices. This dispute has stirred conversation across the WordPress community, with both sides defending their positions.

Here’s what’s been happening:

• TechCrunch reports that Mullenweg’s comments during an event led WP Engine to issue a cease and desist letter, accusing Automattic of defamation. (TechCrunch article)
• This isn’t the first time tension between the two companies has surfaced. Years ago, Mullenweg’s comments suggested that WP Engine wasn’t providing enough value to the WordPress community, effectively throwing WP Engine under the bus. (Reddit post)

WP Engine responded to these recent claims, stating that they continue to provide critical infrastructure for the WordPress ecosystem and remain committed to their customers and the broader WordPress community. (Full response)

For Help4 Network, the focus remains on providing honest, reliable service to the community, something both companies should always strive for.

Help4 Network’s current pledge is just the beginning. Once Help4 Network reaches $1 million in revenue, I will increase the contributions, pledging to donate:

• 5% of revenue to the WordPress Foundation (up from 3%)
• 3% of revenue to push the WordPress Project forward (up from 2%)

Example Calculation:

• Revenue Target: $1,000,000
• 5% for WordPress Foundation:
  $1,000,000 × 0.05 = $50,000 donated annually
• 3% for WordPress Project:
  $1,000,000 × 0.03 = $30,000 allocated annually

This pledge is not a final goal but a baseline—a way to hold myself accountable to the community. As Help4 Network grows, so will its contributions, ensuring that both the WordPress Foundation and the WordPress Project continue to thrive.

Help4 Network is making a bold commitment to supporting the WordPress community and challenging the hosting industry’s flawed approach. By pledging 3% of revenue to the WordPress Foundation and 2% to advancing WordPress, I am not only helping secure the future of the platform but also ensuring that Help4 Network plays a key role in the growth of the open-source ecosystem.

As Help4 Network grows and hits milestones like $1 million in annual revenue, these contributions will increase to 5% and 3% respectively. This is not the end goal—this is just the start of my mission to give back and build a stronger, more open web for everyone.